Tag: jason dawkins

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Frankford Civic Association Meeting 2/2/2012

Former T&T Bar

Mention of the T&T bar once again raised eyebrows at the Frankford Civic meeting on Thursday night.  Neighbors have been watching with concern as work has been going on at the now closed bar at Margaret and Hawthorne Streets. It has been not quite a year since young Christopher Spence lost his life there in a senseless shooting.   Jason Dawkins, Councilwoman Sanchez representative at the meeting assured everyone that the building was not ever going to open up as a bar again.  The building is for sale and the community will have input as to its future use.

In other news at the meeting, the representative of the owner of Torresdale Appliance and Furniture (4571 Torresdale Ave.) presented their zoning case.  The use of the building has changed and they are looking for support from the Civic.  They board voted unanimously to

Torresdale Appliances

support their application.

Stephanie Clymer made a presentation on behalf of the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership.  From Manny Citron of PhillyRising, they are working on a community garden or gardens in Frankford that will hopefully be available in the Spring.  From Edgardo Gonzalez of Tony Payton’s office, there is still interest from the The Center for Urban Theological Studiesin taking over the old Frankford Community Y building.  No decision has been made as yet.

The next Frankford Civic meeting will be on March 1st at 7PM at Aria Health.

 

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Frankford Parks Group

Saturday August 13th is the Hedge Street park cleanup day (Hedge and Orthodox Streets).

I was listing this on the calendar a few days ago and it occurred to me that the Frankford Parks group has been going about its business getting things done without a lot of fanfare.  Jason Dawkins and Kim Washington are the two young people who have been directing this group.

Yes, Jason does work for Councilwoman Sanchez and Kim directs the EPIC stakeholders but what they do for the Parks  group looks like something more.  It’s on their home turf, in their community and they are trying to make a difference using their know how and connections.  I don’t think they are on overtime.  They do it for the community.

Not unlike what Danny Savage did for Deni Playground, they have started up the Hoop Dreams basketball league at Wilmot Park.  This community is being rebuilt one block at a time and increasingly it is the younger people who are doing the building.

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Vern, new owner of 1520 Arrott, former site of Primo’s Sports Bar, please contact the Frankford Civic Association

After much speculation and commenting on a few of our posts, the apparent new owner of 1520 Arrott Street has checked in with a comment.  According to “vern new property owner”:

it is unfare to judge me or wat im doing if u have not stopped to talk with me. That was the the past let it go this is a change for the good

There’s no signage posted on obvious renovating; if it’s going back to a bar, there’s no posting of the liquor license.  Vern, would you please check in with the Frankford Civic and let them know what’s going on with the building.  We’d all love to frankfly.  According to their webiste, you can reach them at info@frankfordcivic.org and at (215) 821-9124.

It would also be awesome if you could check in with Jason Dawkins in Counselwoman Sanchez’s office, who seems to be running point with this civic issue.  His number is 215-686-3448.

And I’d really like any contacted parties to keep The Frankford Gazette in the loop so we can accurately relay information to concerned residents.  The worse thing for this neighborhood is rumor and inuendo.  We’re at info@frankfordgazette.com.

 

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Frankford Civic Meeting

The was a good crowd on hand last week for the Frankford Civic Association Meeting.  Chris Wink has a great report on NEastPhilly.com which hits all the right notes.  He was tardy and missed a short but important discussion we had at the very start concerning the property at 1520 Orthodox Arrott Street.

This is the location of the former Primo’s Sports bar that was closed as a nuisance.  That closure is only effective for a year and then the premises are free to be reopened.  Given the location and unregulated drug market that has surrounded the area, it is clear that it will once again become a problem.

Construction is now underway in the building.  It has been reported on Philly311.com.  Calls have been made to Councilwoman Sanchez office and to Tony Payton’s office.  Jason Dawkins commented on our previous post linked above:

Our office did report out about the above location, the bar does not have a liquor license, which means it will not be a bar…. The location was shut down 7yrs ago and the owner never renewed his license, and there is no current application on file for another license. Folks should not make statements that are not true, if anyone has any questions please call our office and ask for me.

The reason why the folks are up in arms about this bar is that they have a history of ignoring the law and regulations.  Not having a liquor license but still in business for the next 6 years would be one cause for concern.  Building construction with no permits is another.  So if it did not stop them before, it will not stop them now.

In fairness to Jason, I am sure he will do his best to keep it closed.  You can call him directly at Councilwoman Sanchez office at 215-686-3448 or 3449.